Dixon Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole, Washington Gets Life, Possible Parole After 25 Years

LaFonse Dixon was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing hearing on Monday.

On Oct. 22, Dixon was found guilty of aggravated murder, aggravated arson and kidnapping in the death of 29-year-old Celeste Fronsman, the Canton woman found strangled, beaten and burned alive off State Route 208 Aug. 26 2012. Dixon was expressionless when Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Kelly Cottrill told him it was his "self-absorbed, self-indulgent, anything-goes lifestyle" that led to Fronsman’s death.

"You will never again have control over your own life," said Judge Cottrill. "Because you are going to spend the rest of your life in prison."

On top of his life in prison sentence, Dixon was also sentenced to 11 years in prison for helping kidnap Fronsman. Dixon’s mother, Lisa Moore-Blakely, said her heart goes out to Fronsman’s family, but said her son’s sentence is "unfair justice."

"This is like taking my life away," said Moore-Blakely. "Ya know, I have to go into mourning behind this loss of my child that is mine. And with me knowing where he was at, how do you think i feel about that? I’m devastated."

The other codefendant in Fronsman’s murder, Monica Washington, was also sentenced on Monday.

Taking into consideration her cooperation with the prosecution including her testimony against Dixon, Muskingum County Common Pleas Judge Mark Fleegle followed the state’s recommendation and sentenced Washington to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Washington, shaking and crying, apologized to her family and asked for forgiveness.

"I’m sorry that I didn’t stop it when I had the chance and I would like to ask her family to forgive me for allowing them terrible things to happen to her," said Washington. "I’m willing to accept any punishment that’s given to me today."

Before Washington was sentenced, her attorney Kirk McVay noted that there are no excuses for what Fronsman suffered and asked Judge Fleegle to give Washington the lesser sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.

"She’s as remorseful as any client I’ve ever seen your honor," said McVay. " I know she had a relationship with Ms. Fronsman, she again, had a difficult time coming to grips that she could have been part of something that resulted in what did resolve."

Katrina Culberson, the third and final codefendant in this case, will be sentenced on Wednesday.